etherealwinds's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[How Do I Electronic?]

This was your first upload and first attempt at something electronic? Were you just born talented? lol

Definitely doesn't sound like your first time, everything sounds so tight. I love your melodies here too, especially at what sounds like the chorus. I really enjoy how this track progresses too. Your mixing seems to have definitely improved in 2017, but it's still really nice here! I feel that maybe you could add a few vocals and it'd sound perfect!

McGorilla42 responds:

Lol, thank you. I don't think I was born talented, but I had written a lot of music before this, so I guess I watched a bunch of Youtube tutorials and applied what I already knew to this new style of music. But yeah, it was my first time using MIDI and Massive and that sort of thing! I also feel like my mixing has improved, which I'm happy about, but yeah maybe some vocals on top of this would sound pretty decent? :)

[Jungle Jam]

I love that you pay so much attention to there stereo field when mixing your music. There are many musicians on here that don't really put so much attention to detail when it comes to filling out their tracks. Sometimes it sounds a little empty and that (is it like, a hi-hat with the little jazz metal thing tapping against it? woohoo musical terminology) hi-hat percussion can be a little repetitive! maybe switch it out in the middle part for a shaker or something else, maybe some indian tablas?

very nice though, i enjoyed it! you seem to be very versatile when it comes to music.

McGorilla42 responds:

Good grief, I just listened to this again, and yeah - those shaker things go throughout the whole piece! It's interesting listening to this again after quite a few months with fresh ears and I also notice those little wooden hit things bouncing off the sides of the stereo field :D I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's a strange little piece, but it has a feeling to it that I can't quite put my finger on...I wonder which part of my brain it came from.

[Willow Wasteland: Fantasia]

This is a masterpiece. You really have a talent for music and I'm so happy that it's appreciated so much. Listening to this piece takes me on an incredible journey but keeps me in suspense the whole time. It develops gorgeously. For some reason, it reminds me of 'Kingdom of Burmecia' from Final Fantasy 9 a whole lot in terms of the chord progression. Especially the middle to late section. If you don't know the track, have a listen!

Keep up the amaaaaazing work!

Phonometrologist responds:

Your comments really are touching, and for that it doesn't matter the outcome. It has been worthwhile merely because of the feedback. I wasn't familiar with "Kingdom of Burmecia" but I listened to it out of respect. I really enjoy the chord progression, and it's something that is close to what I hear in music. It has a poignant tone that makes me yearn and dream for what is lost, and gives me a hope of what is to come. Sort of thing make me too philosophical. Anyway, I'll share, in return, what inspired me to write the middle section and that is Max Richter's "The Trees." You should make some time to listen to it if you enjoy that sort of wavelength.

[Kids]

This is such a solid track. I can hear this playing on the radio. I'm getting a bit of a Mika vibe from this track which I'm happy about. It's so nice to hear a fresh track that's so well done. The mixing is really nice too. There's something about this track that to me, sounds more like a demo of a great pop song, rather than the finished radio version you would hear, and I can't put my finger on it. I'm trying to work out if the drums are sequenced, or played live?

Seriously though, this is great! I'll keep sharing it around and thanks LunacyEcho for showing this to me! You got yourself a new fan.

McGorilla42 responds:

Gosh, more positive reception for this song. Thank you so much. I think the reason it doesn't sound super polished and isn't radio ready is that my mixing skills aren't too amazing yet and also, my equipment is incredibly basic. There's a picture of my "studio" (read: bedroom) near the bottom of this page: http://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic/1420137/2 So my acoustics are horrid, I don't have any fancy plugins and I'm still learning and trying to get better with each song.

As for the drums - they're definitely sequenced but I tried to create a natural-ish sound with pseudo-overhead "mics" (just a track with all the drums on it, EQ'd with some reverb I think?) :) Glad it sounds vaguely convincing!

Thanks again, etherealwinds! You're yet another great composer on this site so hearing positive words from you is motivating :) Keep well!

[Dust Sweeper]

hey man :)

I've not really heard your other stuff (i'll amend that today) but compositionally, this is really nice. I see what you're trying to go for and I think you were definitely successful.

I love the part at 2:46, switching it up a little which is always nice! I love your tempo changes. What microphone are you using to record your vocals? I'm not sure if it's your mixing or not, but your voice sounds a little muffled in the mix in my opinion. If it's just that you're using a lower quality mic, then I'll let you off ;)

You have a very nice voice. Glad to hear you pushed yourself this round. This is a strong track - good luck!

LunacyEcho responds:

Hey, etherealwinds! Thanks for dropping by! :D

=> composition =>

Glad to see it worked out! Especially to see that you liked 2:46—I was considering removing the section for consistency's sake, but I'm glad I didn't!

=> mic =>

I'm using a Snowball mic, which isn't the best but is DEFINITELY a step up from crappy laptop or earphone mics. I'm sure that my mixing also has room to improve! So don't let me off that easy XD

Thanks for the review! And good luck in the NGADM! :D

[Call of the Warrior]

Some very nice melodies here! I enjoyed the pace of the track too and the choice of instrumentation. I can't say that I've heard many instances in which a church organ and synths are fused. Awesome stuff!

Spadezer responds:

Thanks eterealwinds. I guess I'm now the expert in combining unnatural instruments/rhythms into pleasing listens.

But, I may have this thing for organs. Especially church organs

[Safe at Last]

I love the piano and strings in this! The background ambience is also quite interesting but could perhaps be even more atmospheric with a nice wet echoey reverb. Gorgeous track!

BlazingDragon responds:

Thanks mate! I usually cake on the reverb pretty thick, but it looks like I might have been too conservative this time. XD

[Subterranean Dungeon Theme]

Welcome back, my man. You've always got a place here, and you were so welcoming to me when I joined here!! This sounds great.

BlazingDragon responds:

Thanks so much Jordi! I'm still easing back into music-making, but it would be an honor to collaborate with you in the near future if that's something you'd be interested in.

[Kytoon - Look What You Do]

This. Is. Gorgeous.

GhostLawyer responds:

:3 :3

[NGADM 2017 Round of 64 Podcast]

Goodday sir and thank you for another podcast! I could listen to your voice for hours B)

Time's ticking on it seems! Two weeks actually goes by pretty quickly. I better get to work... *googles how to make a masterpiece in two weeks*

ChronoNomad responds:

You are entirely welcome, my good man! Aw, and that's such a sweet thing to say. :D

Time is indeed rather merciless, and it somehow seems to move even faster when there's a deadline involved. Tick-tock, tick-tock... And hey, I know Google's good, but can it be *that* all-knowing?

Yeah, probably. Thanks for the review!